Chapter Bonanza (2/5)

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“Your Highness?”

As Cen Qing was lost in thought, he heard Moli’s voice in his ear.

“What are you looking at?”

After stepping down from the carriage, Cen Qing had remained rooted to the spot, gazing up at the sky for so long that she inevitably drew attention.

Cen Qing blinked and looked up at the night sky once more. The figure of the wraith seemed to dissolve like scattered gold, and the giant owl vanished into the clouds, as if it were an illusion formed from starlight—gone in an instant.

“Didn’t you see it?” Cen Qing turned to the thorn maids and asked in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

Cen Qing looked around, then shook his head after a moment: “No, nothing.”

Origen and Buyette bowed to him, with the Border Knights lined up behind them.

Most of their armor was mottled with scars, and some pieces were even missing; it was hard to call their military bearing imposing.

Yet they took pride in it.

These were the medals left by the battlefield, the glory earned in bloody combat.

“Your Highness, welcome to the Northern Frontier,” Buyette said on behalf of the group.

The female knight captain was tall and appeared slightly slender, standing beside Origin. Her muscles were not overly defined, yet in battle she could unleash astonishing strength.

She had once held her own against enemies outnumbering her several to one, cutting them down with her formidable combat prowess and earning the fearsome reputation of “Bloody Buyette.”

“It is my honor,” Cen Qing said gently, his smile serene, without a trace of arrogance, coming across as approachable.

In contrast, Zax’s arrogance became a laughingstock.

His self-important attempt at intimidation was completely ignored by the Border Knights. Countless disdainful glances swept over him, as if he were nothing more than a joke.

“Winter nights are cold, and the conditions at the dock-fortress are spartan. Please proceed to the council chamber first; we will have a room prepared for you as soon as possible.” Buyette and Origin personally led the way, treating Cen Qing with great respect.

They deliberately ignored the rest of the delegation.

Zax was arrogant and haughty; he deserved to be “repaid” in kind.

As for the others, they admitted they were taking their frustration out on him.

The northern borderlands and the Royal Capital had always been at odds; even with a thousand grievances, they had no choice but to endure it.

The group passed through the border dock-fortress, guided by the light of the fires toward the council hall.

Cen Qing and the border knights led the way, with the Black Knight and the thorn maids serving as their escort.

The members of the delegation felt resentful but could only follow in silence. They silently noted this humiliation, determined to repay it tenfold.

The dock-fortress was built specifically for war; its internal structure prioritized sturdiness and practicality, lacking aesthetic appeal and standing in stark contrast to the luxury of the Royal Capital.

The Council Hall stood at the heart of the dock-fortress, the largest structure on the grounds.

Two rows of torches lined the path, each standing two meters tall. Their light illuminated the way ahead and cast a glow upon the open doors.

The doors were crafted from oak harvested from the Barren Forest.

Carved into the wood were images of birds and beasts, rendered in bold, rugged lines that exuded an ancient,

The hall is paved with stone slabs, the floor smooth and even. The slabs near the entrance are covered in cracks, and the central area is uneven, as if trampled by an external force, leaving conspicuous marks.

Fire buckets are placed on either side of the gate. The Border Knight takes two quick steps forward and lights the thick logs set inside the buckets.

The moment the flames ignited, the torches on the walls lit up simultaneously.

The orange-red light formed an arc, converging from the top of the walls toward the center of the ceiling, coalescing into a single bright torch.

With a roar, the flames swelled and hung upside down, illuminating the entire council chamber.

In the spacious hall, a round table stood at the center, surrounded by several chairs belonging to the nobles of the Northern Frontier.

Benches ran along three sides of the round table, capable of seating the entire Border Knights’ Order.

Now, most of the seats were empty.

Brave knights had fallen in battle, leaving behind vacant high-backed chairs that bore witness to their glory and etched the bloodshed and cruelty of the northern frontier into history.

“Please forgive us for being unable to host a proper welcome banquet for you.”

Cen Qing took a seat at the round table, and Buyette, without any pretense, laid out the current state of the border for him.

Supplies at the border are scarce, and food is in short supply.

The Royal Capital’s harsh treatment is well known; they are always exceptionally stingy when it comes to supplying provisions.

This situation has persisted for a long time, and even as the rebel forces have grown stronger and the situation has at times been precarious, there has been no change whatsoever.

When the plight of the Border Knights was mentioned, even Zax couldn’t help but feel a flush of embarrassment.

The king has always viewed the border nobles with suspicion, employing every means to suppress them. To this day, the border nobility has dwindled, and the Knights have suffered continuous losses, yet he has not altered his approach, making him the subject of inevitable criticism.

Even as a beneficiary of the system—one whose every honor stemmed from Gorod—His Excellency the Count had to admit that such conduct was truly inappropriate.

Cen Qing surveyed the room, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the Border Knights.

He placed one hand on the round table, ignoring the dust that had gathered there, and tapped the surface lightly. The ring on his ring finger reflected a faint glow, and the gem in the giant owl’s eye suddenly brightened, growing ever more brilliant and crystalline.

“You all guard the kingdom’s borders and fulfill your duties with loyalty; you should not be treated with such indifference.” Seeing Buyette and the others look up, he leaned forward and emphasized his words, “For glorious warriors to charge into battle on empty stomachs is the fault of the Royal Capital, the result of His Majesty the King’s selfishness, and a disgrace to the vampire clan!”

His words rang out with such force that the hall instantly fell deathly silent.

The nobles of the delegation stared at him in shock, a wave of panic surging through them like an unstoppable tsunami.

The First Prince was openly accusing the King!

What was he trying to do?

Regardless of whether his words were harsh, given his current status, it was inevitable that people would read too much into them.

Ruskin clenched his fists tightly, his sense of foreboding growing ever stronger.

Robert and Lai Li exchanged glances, both turning to look at Ruskin. They were acutely aware that his fears were likely to become reality.

Zax looked at Cen Qing, his gaze dark and inscrutable.

He wanted to interrupt the criticism, but could not find an opening. When he caught sight of the expressions on Buyette’s and the others’ faces, his heart sank.

Vaguely, he realized what Cen Qing intended to do.

To rally the people.

Though the Border Knights were dwindling in number, they remained a force not to be underestimated. If they were to switch sides, it would be tantamount to throwing the North wide open—a threat far greater than that of the rebel forces!

At the thought of such a consequence, Zax’s scalp prickled, as if he were standing in a frozen wasteland, his very thoughts frozen solid.

Fortunately, Cen Qing did not pursue the topic further.

He shifted the conversation quite naturally, mentioning the Snow Domain and the wraiths.

He was about to head to Storm City, so it was only natural that he felt curious about the place where he would soon be living.

“The wraiths are a very mysterious race, always coming and going like the wind, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Recently, giant owls have frequently appeared at the border, and occasionally, one can even spot a worg,” said Origen.

“There are very few records about them, so it’s hard for me to learn from books. Could you tell me in detail what you know?” Cen Qing asked humbly, hoping to learn more.

Origin was moved by his attitude and decided to sit down at the table to open up. He not only shared his observations from over the years but also revealed the secrets passed down through his family, leaving nothing unsaid.

Buyette took her leave from Cen Qing; she needed to lead her men in cleaning the dock-fortress and hasten preparations for his quarters.

“Please excuse me, Your Highness.”

“No need to trouble yourself, Lady Buyette,” Cen Qing called after her. “I don’t wish to cause you any inconvenience. I’ll rest in the carriage tonight.”

“The carriage?”

“Yes.” Cen Qing nodded.

Rather than going to great lengths, he preferred to keep things simple. Staying in the carriage was perfectly acceptable; that was how he had arranged things during his travels.

He had a premonition that he would not stay at the dock-fortress for long and would soon set out again.

His premonitions were rarely wrong, and he believed this time would be no different.

Buyette hesitated. Seeing that Cen Qing was insistent, she could only accept his arrangement: “As you wish, Your Highness.”

From start to finish, Zax and the others found no opportunity to speak up.

Since Cen Qing had made it clear he intended to spend the night in the carriage, they naturally could not make any further demands.

Everyone now had a clear understanding of the Border Knights’ attitude. Unless one were utterly foolish and completely blind to the situation, anyone would keep a low profile at this moment, striving to complete the mission safely and avoid causing trouble along the way.

The border dock-fortress was brightly lit, and the lights in the council hall burned well into the night.

At the same time, at the edge of the Barren Forest, the air rippled as a transparent barrier was shattered. The wraiths who had ventured out began returning one by one, arriving at the camp situated on the southern edge of the forest.

A giant owl glided in on the night breeze, and the worgs guarding the perimeter immediately grew alert.

They raised their heads warily, recognizing the figure descending from the sky, then relaxed and lowered their gaze, resting their chins on their crossed forelegs and yawning lazily.

Fran and the others landed with a swoop, exchanged the intelligence they had gathered, and went together to see the Wraith King.

There were no tents in the Wraith King’s camp; a transparent barrier shielded them from the wind and snow, and a bonfire burned in the snow—its flames not orange-red, but a cold, dark blue.

Rows of giant trees stood within the camp, and the Wraith King’s figure appeared atop one.

He sat lazily with his back against the trunk.

The hem of his robe fell naturally; the gems embedded along the fabric’s edges reflected the snowlight, shimmering brightly in the darkness.

A giant owl perched beside him; a thick branch supported its weight, its tip swaying slightly as chunks of snow fell.

The snow clumps plummeted toward the ground, skimming past the tips of Fran and the others’ shoes before crashing down, swallowed by the snow on the ground and leaving behind several irregular pits.

The group stopped and looked up toward the treetops.

Catching sight of the faint golden light lingering in the canopy, they surmised that the Wraith King had gone out, though they were unsure where he had gone.

“Your Majesty, an anomaly has been detected west of the Barren Forest, and a disorganized army is gathering.” Goya lifted her hood, her beautiful eyes glowing coldly and menacingly in the dark night.

“How many?” Wu Ying spoke as he removed his glove; on the index finger of his right hand was a silver ring, its cross-section inlaid with a ruby—a dragonblood stone he had specifically commissioned to be carved.

“No exact numbers yet. Based on the intelligence we’ve gathered so far, the Barbarian Tribes are also involved; their numbers will certainly be substantial.” Goya answered truthfully.

“The Barbarian Tribes?”

The Wraith King lowered his gaze and touched the giant owl’s wing with a single hand.

The proud bird of prey bowed its head, affectionately rubbing against his shoulder, signaling its submission to the ruler of the Snow Domain.

“Continue monitoring their movements. Also, have everyone prepare—tomorrow I shall visit the vampire clan’s dock-fortress to welcome my queen.”

The wraiths hesitated not a moment, bowing respectfully. “As you command, Your Majesty.”

As they straightened, Fran and the others exchanged glances, sharing a common resolve: if the rebel forces dared to cause trouble and disrupt His Majesty’s plans, they would not hesitate to tear those scoundrels to pieces and make them pay for their actions.

The Wraith’s camp lay adjacent to the Forbidden Forest, with worgs forming a barrier and giant owls perched in the treetops.

A flock of ravens flew through the dark night, catching sight of the flickering ethereal light within the camp. Blocked by a transparent barrier, they could not draw any closer.

A piercing shriek echoed from the forest, a sound that was jarring and tinged with bloodlust.

The flock of ravens dared not linger; led by their leader, they flapped their wings and flew away, heading straight toward the dock-fortress.

The wind blew in from the desolate forest, howling across the border and sweeping through the dock-fortress under the cover of night.

After concluding their meeting, they walked against the wind out of the council hall, returning to the carriage parked outside the building.

The members of the delegation wore a variety of expressions as they walked behind Cen Qing, unusually silent.

The border knights, however, were in high spirits. Walking together, their gait was slightly relaxed, yet they could not hide the murderous aura that clung to them—a mark forged on the battlefield.

“His Highness the Prince is very affable.”

“He’s completely different from the nobles in the Royal Capital.”

“It’s a pity he’s heading to the Snow Domain.”

“He still is the heir to the throne.”

“You mean…”

The knights stopped in their tracks and turned to look at Migelin, who had spoken.

He was the second son of a noble family from the Royal Capital, abandoned by his clan and forced to survive on his military merits. Having distinguished himself in a recent battle, he had finally been accepted into the Knights’ Order.

As for Fanna, his noble companion, she had injured her arm in the battle and would be unable to wield a sword for at least a week.

Origin and Buyette walked at the rear of the group; upon hearing the knights’ remarks, neither of them intervened.

In fact, they shared the same thoughts.

Even if he left Golden Rock City, Cen Qing remained the heir to the throne. As long as Gorod did not publicly strip him of his claim, he still had a chance to ascend the throne and become the monarch of the vampire clan.

But as things stood, that hope seemed too faint.

Shortly after the group left the council chamber, heavy snow fell as expected, blanketing the dock-fortress beneath the dark night.

Two knight captains shared the night patrol duties; they were tasked with ensuring Cen Qing’s safety during the delegation’s visit to the dock-fortress.

While on patrol, they were unexpectedly stopped by a maid.

“Are you from His Highness’s entourage…?”

“My name is Yuanwei; I am His Highness’s maid.” Yuanwei stepped forward and held out a parchment scroll with a golden rose seal on it.

“What is this?” Buyette asked.

“His Highness the Prince instructed me to give this to you. If you have any questions after reading it, you may go find him.” After giving these instructions, Yuanwei nodded to the two men and immediately turned to leave.

Origen and Buyette exchanged glances, cut open the red seal, and unfolded the parchment scroll.

“What is this?”

“A list?”

“What does His Highness mean?”

At first, the two were puzzled, unable to fathom Cen Qing’s intentions.

As they scanned the names one by one, their expressions gradually shifted upon seeing familiar ones.

“The Border Knights.”

Origen clenched his fists tightly, while Buyette bit down on his fangs.

“This is the list of the Order’s commanders!”

Their families had guarded the kingdom’s borders for generations; their ancestors had all served as commanders of the Order, leading this army to glorious victories.

But even stars eventually fall.

They had sworn allegiance to Queen Yin, fighting to protect the prince and the Royal Capital.

Gorod feigned cooperation while secretly plotting behind the scenes. He allowed the rebel forces to grow, doing everything in his power to weaken the Border Knights and eliminate the power of the border nobles.

As time passed, their glory became a thing of the past; the Border Knights were reduced to a mere shadow of their former selves, little better off than the Black Knights.

Gorod reaped what he had sown; the rebel forces, emboldened by his indulgence, had grown too powerful to control, forcing the vampire clan to seek an alliance with the wraiths of the Snow Domain.

And the one sent away was the Queen of Yin’s only heir!

“What does Your Highness intend to do?”

The same question arose in both their minds.

As they considered a possible answer, their hearts stirred with emotion.

Once they had calmed down, the practical realities of the situation became clear: no matter what His Highness intended to do, given his current circumstances, the task would undoubtedly be fraught with difficulties.

“We must see His Highness.”

“We must avoid the envoy’s watchful eyes—especially Zax and his followers.”

Origin and Buyette quickly reached an agreement, deciding to find an opportunity before dawn to see Cen Qing at all costs.

“I’ll keep watch!” A voice suddenly rang out, startling the two.

They spun around to see Migelin stepping out of the shadows; it was unclear how long he had been standing there.

Realizing his rashness, Migelin hurriedly apologized: “Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. It’s a natural ability of mine—I’m very good at hiding, which is why I can escape on the battlefield. No, what am I saying… …”

Perhaps due to excessive nervousness, he began to ramble incoherently.

A hand suddenly pressed against his shoulder, the fingers squeezing firmly to signal him to calm down.

“Calm down, young man. We’re not blaming you,” Origen said in a deep voice.

Having failed to sense the presence behind him, he and Buyette should reflect on their own shortcomings. You can’t blame others for your own negligence; that’s not what a knight should do.

Migelin was deeply grateful, and when Origin entrusted him with the patrol duty, he was overjoyed.

“Captain, I will definitely complete the mission!” With that, he turned and left in high spirits, like a young stag—agile and nimble, always full of fighting spirit.

Buyette nudged Origen with his elbow and said with a smile, “The youngster you’ve taken under your wing is truly adorable and innocent.”

“I’m warning you, don’t lay a finger on him,” Origin cautioned solemnly, his tone utterly serious.

“Am I the kind of person who would do that?” Buyette scoffed.

“You are,” Origin declared categorically.

Buyette: “……”

As expected, the most stinging criticism always comes from a close friend.

As night deepened, the lights within the dock-fortress never went out.

Patrol knights divided into several groups, moving through the dock-fortress, constantly on the alert for any movement outside the walls, not overlooking a single suspicious detail.

In the very center of the dock-fortress, a square bonfire blazed fiercely, its smoke shooting straight up into the sky, vanishing into the darkness at the top, torn apart and extinguished by the howling wind.

The goblins were busy inspecting the vehicles, covering the bodies with tarps, and tightening the ropes to prevent the crates on the wagons from getting wet in the snow.

Slaves shuttled between the wagons, helping the goblins repair wheels and replace broken planks. Or they hoisted sacks filled with fodder, hurrying to feed the warhorses and mules.

The porcupines didn’t need to be fed; the goblins took good care of them.

With Cen Qing’s wagon at the center, a bustling scene unfolded all around.

Inside the wagon, Cen Qing leaned back in his seat, wrapped in a blanket, holding a book in her hands, though she hadn’t turned a page in quite some time.

A snow leopard cub climbed onto his lap, curled up into a ball, and burrowed deeply into the blanket.

Moli remained inside the carriage, while the other maids stood guard outside.

The maids outside summoned thorns, erecting a wall around the carriage, with sharp thorns pointing outward, creating a truly terrifying sight.

Unless Cen Qing permitted it, no one could approach this area.

“That’s really strict.”

Several Black Knights walking together couldn’t help but gasp at the maids’ actions.

“This is the border, with bandits roaming everywhere and the approaching Wraiths—we can’t be too careful.” Pinault walked over, one hand resting on his sword hilt, the other holding a bulging sack. As he untied the opening, a pungent, sweet-and-sour scent wafted out, proving it was filled with fine wine.

Seeing what he had brought, the Black Knights’ eyes lit up instantly.

Pinault tossed the bag to them, and as it passed from hand to hand, he reminded them, “Two sips each. Absolutely no more than that, and you must not get drunk.”

“Understood!”

The Black Knights beamed, nodding in agreement.

The wineskin passed from hand to hand, its aroma wafting through the air and mingling with the dancing embers, adding a touch of warmth to the deep winter night.

Cen Qing yawned again.

He rolled down the window, pulled a fluffy bundle from under the blanket, buried his nose in the snow leopard’s belly, and took a deep, intoxicated breath.

From resolutely resisting to simply giving in and lying down, the snow leopard cub hadn’t put up much of a fight.

After all, Cen Qing could provide plenty of food.

It couldn’t very well go hungry for the sake of pride, could it?

It became quite cooperative, even curling up its four paws and rolling around—a veritable transformation from a fierce beast into a pet, and a willing one at that.

Inside the carriage, it was warm and cozy; outside, the wind was bitingly cold.

The snow fell harder and harder, quickly blanketing the landscape; within half a meter, it was impossible to make out anyone coming from the opposite direction.

For the Border Knights, harsh weather was the norm.

But the nobles from the Royal Capital found it hard to adjust.

Zax and the others forgot to keep an eye on Cen Qing; they all retreated into the carriage, wrapping themselves in cloaks and blankets to avoid any risk of frostbite.

To meet the visitors from the Snow Domain with a face covered in frostbite would be a severe blow to their dignity. For the nobles, this was completely unacceptable.

“In weather like this, unless rebel forces attack, there will be no surprises.”

Convincing themselves of this, the nobles fell into a peaceful slumber.

Following their lead, the knights guarding the nobles grew lax in their patrols, allowing the intruders to slip through unnoticed—they didn’t even spot the two figures creeping toward them.

The flickering flames rendered the perimeter defenses around the delegation virtually useless.

The intruders lurked in the darkness, their eyes fixed on the carriage guarded by thorns.

Origin and Buyette were lightly clad; both had shed their armor, wearing only light jackets and trousers, and had swapped their cloaks for shorter ones, the hems securely tucked into their waists.

They moved with stealth, their footsteps silent.

Passing through the drowsy knights, they made their way past several tents and rows of wagons. Ahead, a dense wall of thorns loomed, its sharp spines glinting coldly.

They were forced to stop, gesturing to one another as they searched for a gap in the wall.

“Don’t move.”

The voice came from behind them.

Two long swords pressed against their necks, the sharp blades touching their throats, ready to sever their heads at any moment.

“We mean no harm.”

The two reacted quickly, spreading their hands simultaneously, making no move to grab their weapons.

Flames gathered from all sides; the goblins holding the torches wore thick coats and were wrapped in furs, leaving only a pair of bulging eyes exposed, which looked particularly terrifying in the firelight.

It was the Black Knights who had subdued the two men.

Gripping their long swords, they effortlessly disarmed the men, including the daggers hidden at their waists.

“Catch!” The one-eyed Salei tossed them aside; the daggers and shortbows flew through the air and were caught with precision by several large hands.

Looking in that direction, more Black Knights stepped into the firelight.

They naturally parted to the sides, making room for the thorn maids who followed behind.

“We have come to seek an audience with His Highness the Prince. ” Not wanting to cause any misunderstanding, Origin produced the parchment scroll sent by Cen Qing and looked at Yuanwei across from him, “You delivered this personally, just two hours ago.”

Moli was not present; Yuanwei and Juandan were the ones who stepped forward.

Recognizing the two knight captains, Yuanwei signaled for the Black Knights to disperse: “They are His Highness’s guests. ”

After confirming this, the Black Knights quickly sheathed their swords.

Buyette called out to them, spreading his palms in a gesture: “Our weapons.”

“Sorry, I forgot.”

Salei and the others grimaced and willingly returned their shortbows and daggers.

Judging by the battle-scarred scabbards, their owners must have endured brutal combat and were certainly worthy of respect.

Having retrieved their weapons, Origin and Buyette turned to the maid.

She nodded at them and turned away first: “Follow me.”

As the thorn maids passed by, the tangled thorns parted like a tide, revealing a path.

At the end of the passageway stood a carriage. Its antique-style body was carved with the emblem of an ancient royal house—it was indeed Cen Qing’s carriage.

A crack in the window let in bright white light—not candlelight, but the glow of a Sea Pearl.

Origen and Buyette suddenly felt a surge of tension.

Cen Qing’s first impression on them was that of a slender, delicate beauty—as fragile as crystal and appearing to be in poor health. This left them rather disheartened.

Recalling the formidable strength of Queen Yin, their disappointment was understandable.

After their conversation in the council chamber, that impression was shattered, easily overturned.

Thinking of the parchment scroll, a certain suspicion arose in their minds, and they unconsciously clenched their fists, their expectations for this meeting growing.

The carriage door opened, and Moli stepped out, coming to a stop before the two men.

“Captain Origin, Captain Buyette.” His voice was detached; he was always cold toward anyone other than Cen Qing, rarely showing much emotion.

The two nodded to him and simultaneously produced the parchment scroll: “We received this and have come to request an audience with His Highness.”

“His Highness is waiting for you as well,” Moli replied.

She raised her right arm, palm facing down, and a profusion of thorns burst forth from beneath the snow, intertwining and twisting wildly to form a wall around the carriage. They then curved inward, weaving into a dense roof that effectively blocked out the wind and snow—including sound.

The carriage door swung open once more, and a slender figure stepped out, appearing before the two.

Cen Qing was dressed as before—a dark coat and long boots, with a long cloak draped over his shoulders.

He held a white fur ball in his arms; it wasn’t a warming sleeve, and it was actually moving. Buyette examined it closely and confirmed it was a snow leopard, a cub.

Moli snapped her fingers, and thorns sprouted from the ground, weaving themselves into three high-backed chairs arranged around a round table.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Cen Qing said as he stepped forward and descended, gesturing for the two to take a seat.

The captain of the knights insisted on bowing to him, his bow perfectly executed. This single gesture alone set him apart from the nobles of the Royal Capital.

Once the three had settled, Moli served hot drinks and pastries.

The pastries weren’t particularly refined, but they were plentiful. The filling contained fresh blood, which proved irresistible to the captain of the knights, making it hard for them to resist.

“Please help yourselves; don’t be shy.” Cen Qing stroked the snow leopard with one hand, gently grooming its fur. Occasionally, he scratched its chin, causing it to squint its eyes in pleasure.

The two suppressed their longing, took out the parchment scroll, unfolded it, and said to Cen Qing, “Your Highness, we hope you can tell us what this is all about.”

“I think you can guess; otherwise, you wouldn’t have come to see me.” Cen Qing raised his wine glass; steam rose from the rim, blurring his expression. His dark eyes seemed veiled, making him inscrutable.

The two exchanged a glance and decided to let Buyette speak first: “Your Highness, this is a list of the commanders of the Border Knights’ Order throughout the generations.”

“Continue.” Cen Qing gestured for her to go on.

Buyette sat up straight, her gaze fixed intently on him. “My family, Origin’s family, and the families of many Border Knights have guarded this land for generations. Our ancestors were honored to be included on this list. Therefore, Origin and I were wondering—are you planning to rebuild the Knights?”

“Correct.” Cen Qing smiled faintly, confirming her guess.

“Forgive my frankness, but you are heading to the Snow Domain.” Origin cut straight to the chase, stating the reality with an unmistakable harshness in his voice, “You hold the first claim to the throne, but you may lose it. If you cannot return to the kingdom, rebuilding the Border Knights will be meaningless to you.”

“Please forgive me; it’s not a lack of loyalty,” Buyette added, not wanting Cen Qing to misunderstand the two of them. “We must consider practical matters. After all, the situation at the border is dire, and the forces we can deploy are truly limited.”

In other words, they could not afford to expend any more resources.

They simply could not afford the loss.

“I understand your concerns,” Cen Qing said, raising his right hand. Moli quickly stepped forward and unfolded a map on the table. This map had come from Golden Rock Fortress, forced upon them by Gorod.

“This is the map of the Thousand Lakes Territory—my territory,” Cen Qing said.

He set the snow leopard cub down, traced a circle on the map with his finger, and tapped it lightly. Immediately, routes extended in different directions along the waterways: one connecting to the northern border, one leading to the Royal Capital, and another heading toward the Wasteland Realm—a vast region known as the Land Forsaken by the Gods.

“Heading to the Snow Domain is not the end, but the beginning.”

“I will not relinquish the throne, nor will I give up anything I am entitled to .”

“One day, I will return to Golden Rock City. Until then, I must devote myself fully to managing my domain. The Black Knights are not enough; therefore, I need more power.”

His words were direct as he laid out his blueprint before the two of them.

The Thousand Lakes Territory, Northern Border, the Royal Capital.

From Cen Qing’s plan, the two saw limitless possibilities, enough to set their hearts racing.

“What do you need us to do? Is it merely to rebuild the Knights’ Order?” Buyette asked cautiously.

“Rebuild the Knights’ Order, and swear allegiance to me.” Cen Qing’s words were concise. A white light illuminated his eyes; his irises momentarily reflected a different hue. “My mother left behind a diary. I found entries regarding the Border Knights, including your families.”

“Your family once fought alongside my mother, earning great merit. Yet you received neither the glory you deserved nor were your original lands restored after Gorod ascended the throne.”

As Cen Qing spoke, he closely observed their expressions.

Sure enough, their eyes betrayed a sense of resentment, filled with hatred for Gorod.

“Swear allegiance to me, and faithfully follow me, and I will grant you everything you deserve. As a family of knights, you rightfully deserve vaster lands, greater glory, and higher status. Not to be forgotten by time on the kingdom’s borders, with your military achievements casually erased.” Cen Qing said.

Origin and Buyette did not nod immediately.

Though the sweet fruit was certainly tempting, when it came to their family, they still needed to remain cautious; it was by no means a decision to be made lightly.

“Your Highness, we need time to consider.”

Cen Qing did not press them, but nodded with a smile: “I will await your answer until the envoy from the Snow Domain arrives.”

Until the envoy from the Snow Domain arrives?

The two paused slightly, their eyes sweeping over the ring on Cen Qing’s hand, but they did not raise any objections at that moment.

At dawn, the heavy snow had just ceased.

Since the onset of winter, a rare sunny day had appeared on the northern border.

Thick dark clouds parted, quickly scattered by the gale, revealing a vast expanse of blue sky, clear for miles, as if washed clean.

The boundless azure was refreshing to the soul.

Such fine weather should have brought good cheer.

Alas, the heavens did not grant their wishes. Just after breakfast, a group of wandering vampires, in alliance with a barbarian tribe, launched a surprise attack on the dock-fortress from the west.

They wore cloaks cut from white bear pelts; when lying in ambush, they blended seamlessly with the snowy landscape, making them nearly impossible to spot.

The leader was extremely cunning. He had his men lie in wait along the patrol’s inevitable route, seizing the opportunity to kill several knights, donning their armor in an attempt to trick the dock-fortress garrison into opening the gates.

“Those cowards in the Royal Capital—they’re seeking peace with the Snow Domain.”

“Jewels, gold, grain—they’ve even sent a prince!”

“Charge in, seize those treasures, kill that prince, and burn everything to the ground!”

The wandering vampires consist of both nobles and commoners. They are neither loyal to Gorod nor nostalgic for Queen Yin; they harbor a searing hatred for the vampire clan.

They have all been branded as sinners, doomed to wander the kingdom’s borders for life, unable to touch their own property or land, and over the long years have become complete outcasts.

Corrupted by evil thoughts, their methods are cruel and bloody; they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

“Kill them!”

While the barbarian tribes seek plunder, the wandering vampires seek only to kill to their heart’s content, staining everything red with blood to vent their rage and unleash their seething hatred.

The patrol is composed of both border knights and knights from the Royal Capital.

Organized into squads of five to ten, most rode spotted horses and wore armor of varying styles. Their boots and gloves bore distinct patterns, and their cloaks were made of different materials, making them easily distinguishable.

Fanna was wounded in battle and was temporarily unfit for the front lines, yet he still had to shoulder patrol duties.

The border forces were severely understaffed; the wounded could not get proper rest, leading to an escalating death toll and creating a vicious cycle.

The knights did not voice their complaints openly, but their resentment toward the Royal Capital was palpable. Like a simmering volcano, it would eventually erupt completely.

Half of the squad Fanna was in consisted of wounded soldiers, and patrolling in the cold weather could easily aggravate their injuries.

The group’s morale was already low, and to make matters worse, a group of “young masters” from the Royal Capital joined their ranks ” from the royal capital joined their ranks. Riding tall horses and clad in silver armor, their bows and swords were crafted by master artisans, yet their blades had never seen blood.

Newcomers that they were, they looked down their noses at everyone, using their status to boss people around.

The border knights seethed with rage. Even within a few hundred meters of their patrol route, they’d already thought more than once of plunging a sword through their chests and slitting their throats.

“A bunch of pretentious jerks.”

“I’d love to slaughter them.”

“If the rebels suddenly appeared, that’d be some fun.”

Fanna’s squad rode along leisurely, watching the arrogant figures ahead and thinking these thoughts with no small amount of malice.

They were merely thinking—they never expected their thoughts to become reality.

Suddenly, chaos erupted ahead of the column. Dozens of rebels emerged from beneath the snow, flinging off their cloaks and leaping to their feet as they charged toward the patrol.

“Trouble! It’s the rebels!”

“Turn back quickly!”

After a quick assessment of the numbers, Fanna’s squad decisively turned away, with no intention whatsoever of engaging in battle.

This left the Royal Capital Knights in a dire situation.

Their warhorses, startled, reared up one after another, flinging their riders to the ground.

The rebels seized the moment to swarm forward, swinging their swords and axes in a frenzied hack-and-slash.

The knights were cut down before they could even get back on their feet; their armor and weapons were stripped from them, and not even the boots on their feet were spared.

“Stop them! Don’t let a single one get away!” the wandering vampires shouted.

Fanna and his men hadn’t managed to break through very far when they encountered two more ambushes.

They realized the situation was dire.

They had fallen into a trap, and there was a high likelihood they would meet their end here.

“Sound the horn!” the squad leader ordered, only to be impaled through the chest by wandering vampires the next moment. A bloodied hand reached out from his chest, its fingers still clutching his heart.

With the squad leader fallen, the knights rallied to fight back.

Fanna swung his sword to fend off the attacking beastmen. Ignoring the pain in his arm, he grabbed the horn and blew it.

They might not escape, but these ambushing rebels would certainly not survive!

No matter what they were planning—whether a simple robbery or something more sinister—the sound of the horn would alert the dock-fortress garrison, and they would not be allowed to escape.

“Charge out! Kill!”

The mournful blast of the horn tore through the cold wind. The surviving border knights seized their weapons and engaged the rebels in a fierce melee; not a single one retreated.

With one side outnumbered and the other fighting for their lives, the outcome remained uncertain for a time; the battle was evenly matched.

Fanna’s squad’s ordeal was not an isolated incident.

More than a third of the patrols out on duty had been ambushed. Two groups of rebels had successfully closed in on the sentry posts, just a step away from infiltrating the dock-fortress.

At the critical moment, more bugle calls rang out, shattering their dreams.

Seeing their plan exposed, the two groups of rebels ripped off their helmets, instantly shifting form, and prepared to ram the dock-fortress gates open.

“Roar—”

Leading the charge was a savage bear-man.

Standing over five meters tall and covered head to toe in coarse fur, he was nearly impervious to ordinary arrows. The knights fired from the ramparts, but unless they aimed for his eyes or mouth, they could not harm him in the slightest.

The savage bear-man charged forward through the hail of arrows, using brute strength to break through the defenses, arching his back to ram the dock-fortress gates.

He shattered the wall bricks with his bare hands and slammed his body against the gates; with every impact, dust fell, and cracks appeared in the bolts, leaving them precariously unstable.

The knights and slaves camped outside the city suffered heavy losses.

The Savage bearmen cut off the dock-fortress’s external reinforcements, and the rampaging troops charged the camp with utter disregard.

The massive Savage Beastmen tore down tents, rampaging through the camp and crushing everything in their path. A wandering vampire clan, eyes bloodshot, swept through the camp, seizing a target at random, lowering their heads to bite through his neck, causing blood to spurt instantly.

In just over ten minutes, the area outside the dock-fortress lay in utter ruin, a veritable hell on earth.

“They came prepared.” Origin and Buyette climbed onto the ramparts and saw more rebel forces emerging from different directions—clearly, they had coordinated their attack in advance.

Wandering vampires, savage beastmen, fallen treants.

“Damn it, I knew those guys from the Royal Capital couldn’t be trusted!”

Those skeleton knights kept claiming they’d driven away the fallen treants—so where did these ones come from?!

“I have a bad hunch.” Buyette drew his bow and fired three arrows in rapid succession, killing the Featherfolk attempting to storm the city. “News of His Highness the Prince’s arrival has been leaked.”

“You mean there’s a traitor in the diplomatic mission?” Origin’s expression immediately hardened.

“There are several possibilities; we can’t rule out trouble within the dock-fortress itself.” Buyette drew her bow again, and another Feathered One fell with a thud, plummeting from the sky like a kite whose string had snapped. “Send men to protect His Highness immediately!”

The garrison was already short-handed; facing the swarming rebel forces, they could easily be stretched too thin.

Uncertain whether they could trust the Royal Capital Knights, Buyette and Origen felt a growing sense of anxiety, both realizing the situation was extremely precarious.

As if misfortune never comes alone, a rumbling sound echoed from outside the dock-fortress.

A terrifying snow mountain rose from the ground, and one after another, snow giants emerged, attacking the dock-fortress from all directions and bringing an even greater crisis.

Mixed among the snow giants were fallen treants; twisted human faces protruded from their black-gray trunks, their expressions ferocious and filled with hatred, their shrill screams exceptionally terrifying.

“They’re coming!”

The colossal horde accelerated toward them; the dock-fortress walls could barely hold them back and were in danger of collapsing at any moment.

The Border Knights knew full well that they were in grave danger. Unless a miracle occurred, the border dock-fortress was destined to be awash in blood today.

BOOM!

Amid the deafening roar, a crimson gust of air shot skyward.

A blood skull soared into the air and plunged down upon the chaotic enemy ranks below.

The skeleton knights’ camp was scattered, but they quickly regrouped, determined to engage the chaotic enemy in open battle.

“We can’t hold the gate!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than another deafening crash rang out, and a breach was finally torn in the dock-fortress gate.

The rebel army let out a cheer and was about to surge inside when the ground beneath their feet suddenly shook. Immediately afterward, a mass of thorn-covered brambles burst from the earth, piercing their feet, impaling them together, and hoisting them into the air.

As excruciating pain struck them, the rebels finally realized what was happening and let out heart-wrenching screams.

A black mist suddenly spread, and massive dark clouds rolled across the snowy landscape.

Amid the fog, thirty warhorses formed a spearhead formation. The mounted knights, wielding long swords, escorted a carriage as it charged straight toward the dock-fortress gates.

“It’s His Royal Highness the Prince!”

This force appeared out of nowhere, ramming into the rebel army with ferocious force.

Following the chariot was a vast horde of goblins, driving porcupines that charged wildly in all directions. Their sharp quills were caked with flesh and blood; some bore half-corpse fragments—all from the rebel ranks.

“There are rebel spies within the diplomatic mission.”

Inside the carriage, Moli reported to Cen Qing, rattling off several names without hesitation—one of whom was none other than the Deputy Envoy.

“It’s hardly surprising. After all, His Majesty the King has allowed the rebel forces to grow strong. If someone harbors ulterior motives, they’re simply reaping the bitter fruit of their own actions.” Cen Qing looked out the window; sitting in the speeding carriage, he felt not a single jolt. “He can usurp the throne; it’s only natural that others would harbor ambitions as well.”

As the two spoke, the convoy had already burst out of the dock-fortress.

The slaves led by Tiemu swiftly closed in on the carriage, joining forces with the goblins to form a formidable fighting force.

Cen Qing suddenly appeared and was quickly recognized by the rebel forces; as expected, they concentrated even more firepower on him.

More than half of the rebel forces abandoned their assault on the dock-fortress and instead closed in to surround him.

Their intent was clear: capture him or kill him, thereby shattering the alliance between the vampire clan and the wraiths.

“Your Highness, let me go…”

“No need to rush.” Cen Qing stopped Moli, cutting off her unfinished sentence.

He rolled down the carriage window and gazed out with his dark eyes.

He was waiting—and gambling.

If last night’s vision had not been an illusion, he was confident he would win this gamble.

He might as well use this attack to his advantage, demonstrating to the Snow Domain his isolation—unprotected by the vampire clan royal family and facing the contempt and betrayal of the nobility.

“A political marriage is a double-edged sword.”

Cen Qing gazed at the sky, a faint smile curving his lips.

He had never promised Gorod that he would secure an alliance between the two nations, rather than simply adding another enemy to their ranks.

The encircling chaos of battle grew ever tighter; the fighting reached a fever pitch, and the area around the carriage became a meat grinder, with bright red blood splattering and congealing into stark, dark stains.

At the height of the battle, a piercing screech suddenly rent the air.

Hundreds of giant owls swept across the sky, devouring swathes of azure, their dark mass obscuring the sun.

The colossal shadow pressed down upon the ground, spreading like a river toward the dock-fortress, engulfing the battlefield strewn with flesh and blood.

Before the warring factions could react, the earth beneath their feet began to tremble. A terrifying rumble of thunder grew from far to near, crashing through the forest like a tidal wave, sweeping in like a raging torrent.

“Worgs!”

“Countless Worgs!”

Giant owls in the sky, worgs on the ground—an overwhelming sense of oppression descended. Even before the glint of blades could be seen, the sweet, metallic scent of blood already filled their nostrils.

“The lord of the snow domain—it is the Wraith King!”

Only when that tyrant made his appearance could such a terrifying pressure be felt.

The chaotic troops were seized by panic. With no time to linger in battle, they turned and fled in all directions, leaving a trail of blood and corpses in their wake—even their wounded comrades were abandoned.

To survive under the Wraith King’s rule, speed was their only hope. Those with legs ran as fast as they could; those without had no choice but to crawl.

The rebel soldiers surrounding Cen Qing seemed to hesitate, but when the first worg appeared, they could not withstand their inner fear and turned one after another, scattering in panic.

Cen Qing rolled down the carriage window and clearly saw the fleeing figures.

Before he could react, a piercing whistle cut through the air from above. A pair of sharp talons seized the roof, ignoring the thorns in their path as they pierced through the carriage’s canopy.

Sunlight streamed down from above. Cen Qing instinctively looked up and met a massive eye—belonging to the colossal. This giant owl was entirely snow-white, with golden-brown eyes. A golden chain was wrapped around its neck, encrusted with gems that were far from ordinary—each one worth a fortune.

The giant owl flew away from the carriage, allowing Cen Qing to see the figure on its back.

Tall and slender, standing with his back to the light.

A gold-embroidered cloak wrapped around his entire body, a strand of long hair slipping out from under the hood, as fine as the finest silk.

The figure before her overlapped with the one from last night, and Cen Qing guessed his identity.

The Wraith King.

His betrothed, his future husband.

This ruler, renowned throughout the world for his ferocity, had appeared in person at the border between the two nations. The moment he showed himself, he scattered the chaotic troops and, in the process, dismantled his carriage.